By Aniqa Norhazry (25S03D) and Foo Le Xuan Shanice (25S03A)
Photos courtesy of Raffles Photographic Society
“Go Raffles, go Raffles, go! Take them on, take them on!”
It wasn’t Raffles’ first time going against the Victoria Junior College team in the finals. Both schools have been grappling for the champion title for years. VJC has defended its champion title for the past 2 years, narrowly beating the Rafflesian team 2-1 in 2022 and 6-4 in 2023.
A sense of trepidation clouded the atmosphere, as the same thought filled everyone’s minds: Could it really be that “Third Time’s the Charm”?
Floorball is played in 3 periods, each lasting 20 minutes. The team with the most number of goals scored wins.
The whistle sounds, and the pale blue court transforms into a blur of black and white. The crowd goes silent with bated breath, with no way to know which way the match will go. Only the rapid sounds of shoes squeaking against the flooring can be heard.
Victoria’s #7 scores the first goal. The crowd erupts in a series of cheers from the VJC side, and cries of friendly exasperation from the RI supporters. The match continues. Everyone is on the edge of their seats, waiting to see if Victoria will retain or lose the lead to Raffles.
After 120 anxiety-inducing seconds, Raffles gains possession and our captain #23 (Caedan Tan) scores a goal with a satisfying swish. Not 3 minutes later, his familiar pink floorball stick can be seen as he scores another goal for Raffles, breaking the tie. The first period ends, with a 2-1 to RI.
The Victorian team comes back from the break with a newfound sense of determination, as Victoria scores a goal mere minutes into the game. They move swiftly, scoring another goal just 3 minutes later, putting them in the lead. Both teams grapple for the ball across the court, neither side wanting to give up possession. Despite RI’s best efforts, the second period ends with 3-2 to VJ.
Before the final period commences, a sense of apprehension fills the room. These final 20 minutes are what stand between either team and the gold trophy laid on the maroon tablecloth a few metres away. The hopes, the aspirations of the players, are almost tangible.
The whistle sounds again, and the fight is on. Victoria scores a goal, widening the gap from 3-2 to 4-2. Raffles scores another goal, closing the distance to 4-3. As timeout begins to draw near, the nail-biting suspense reaches its peak. Raffles scores another goal, and the crowd goes wild.
The last period ends 4-4.
We go on to penalties. Each team takes turns to take their shots. Victoria and RI tie at 2-2, both sides unwilling to give in. Victory is so close, the gold trophy within arm’s reach.
The sudden death commences, where the first team to score a goal wins. It’s all or nothing now. Raffles goes first. The ball narrowly misses the goal and Victoria goes next. The whole room goes silent. Trepidation fills the stands. Everyone was on the edge of their seats, not knowing if we would be witnessing the winning goal next.
With a stunning woosh, the floorball makes it into the net. Victoria had just won the finals again.
The final whistle blew signalling Raffles’ defeat. Most of the players had their heads in their hands, or stood in silence from the pure shock of the moment, and rightfully so. All but one teammate, who kept his head held high and wasted no time in comforting his dispirited peers.
Caedan Tan, who had scored 2 goals and one penalty in the intense finals, is the Captain of the Floorball Boys team. Throughout the game, he skilfully manoeuvred the ball on the court and was persistent in his attacks. He took every chance he got, with an agility and pace that put the team in the lead at the first break. This ability is definitely not unexpected, considering Caedan’s familiarity with the sport.
An avid player since the age of six, floorball has always been second nature for Caedan. He joined a club early on, along with Charles Alexander, vice-captain of the RI team. Having each other as a source of support, their talents and passions have developed into who they are today. Currently, they both represent their club in the Floorball Premier League.
On top of that, Caedan coaches the junior teams at his club, which requires a whole new skill set of its own. Gaining a fresh perspective on the game through his new experience in coaching has strengthened his relationship with the RI coach, enabling him to take charge better and lead the team to function as a unit.
But that’s not all.
For our Captain, his talent has gained him a spot in the U19 national floorball team. With this rare opportunity, he will be able to gain experience and a confidence that pushes him further as a player. “This exposure definitely helps me improve my composure and allows me to remain more calm during our NSG games. I’m also more mentally prepared before big games…This really helps me in my preparation as I will be less nervous and more ready to play the game.”
His increased exposure to the sport translates into his captaincy role as well. “I tend to be more relaxed. This allows me to look out more for my teammates who might be more stressed or nervous. During period breaks, I am also more prepared to talk to the team and motivate them.”
For Caedan, his grasp on the sport has led him to tremendous achievements. As the team captain, he employed the skills he had gained to lead his team to the final match of the season. Even with the unfavourable result, the boys remain steadfast in their dedication for the game and each other, especially under Caedan’s wing.
With such a nail-biting game, we are often left to think of what could have been. What-ifs and doubts can cloud our minds, even subconsciously. Here’s what Caedan has to say on this: “Although there were indeed some mistakes which could have been avoided, I personally believe everyone gave their hearts out during the game, and it translated into us playing the best game we played during the season. I am still immensely proud of the team’s willpower and determination, clawing back to a draw despite trailing by two goals with only 10 minutes left.”
The weight of a loss can easily get to us, and distract us from the wins already present. For the Floorball boys, although they were initially emotional and disheartened about their loss, they unanimously agreed to look back on their season with pride. Putting up such a close fight against a known powerhouse is truly honourable, and for some it will “remain as one of the few losses that I can still smile about and be proud of ”.
While the scoreboard reflected a narrow defeat, the true measure of this match extended beyond mere numbers. In the face of tough opponents, the team left everything on the court, pushing the limits with their unyielding spirits. Although this marks a bittersweet end to the season, it remains a promise of greater victories to come.
Congratulations, Floorball boys of 2024!
